Abeer Alrumaih
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AN EXPLORATION OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURALLY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN KUWAIT Abeer Alrumaih A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Bournemouth University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2015 Bournemouth University Copyright Statement This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and due acknowledgement must always be made of the use of any material contained in, or derived from, this thesis. II Abstract In recent decades, sustainable tourism has emerged as an alternative to traditional mass tourism approaches to tourism development, as the latter has struggled to cope with many detrimental impacts to the socio-cultural and natural environments and, indirectly, the broader tourism economy. Tourism is now embracing the principles of sustainability to safeguard and conserve the very resources on which it depends. Sustainable tourism development recognises the importance of the cultural and ecological resources of the local community, which are regarded as essential to achieving better socio-cultural and economic results. The available studies of socio- cultural impacts are mainly based on a Western perspective and there is a dearth of information about Islamic destinations from the socio-cultural angle. The aim of this research is to assess the potential for the development of culturally sustainable tourism in Kuwait, which fills a gap in knowledge. Although Islamic teaching and principles encourage people to travel as well as to be hospitable to guests, doubt exists that the development of tourism will only bring negative socio-cultural impacts for host communities. Islamic destinations have a lifestyle connected with Islamic traditions and cultural values that are often in conflict with the needs of tourism development and leisure activities, which are mainly geared to Western culture. However, tourism development is an effective tool of economic diversification for many Islamic countries, especially in oil-dependent economies, as it can generate substantial revenues through foreign exchange earnings and thereby enable countries to withstand economic fluctuations created by non-renewable crude oil resources. Kuwait is an example of an Islamic destination that depends on oil as the main source of income and it has a unique socio-cultural context that revolves around customs and traditions originating from Islamic religion and tribal roots. Therefore, a culturally sustainable tourism policy from an Islamic point of view, closely aligned to the socio-culture of the countries involved, is likely to be preferable to the host community. III This study used a qualitative approach to explore the potential for the development of culturally sustainable tourism in Kuwait. The primary data were collected through face-to face semi-structured interviews. The findings illustrate that there is a potential for tourism development in Kuwait as there is acceptance of and potential for different types of tourism such as family, business and cultural tourism. Enthusiasm for tourism development relates to the potential to diversify the Kuwaiti economy and to create new jobs for locals, as well as to enhance the Kuwait image nationally and internationally. Additionally, analysis of the findings shows there is some enthusiasm for tourism development in Kuwait if it is appropriately tailored to the Kuwaiti socio-cultural context and if the government supports it. Unfortunately, the findings highlight that the Kuwaiti government attitude is negative generally; tourism is not prioritised, and legislation has not been developed to support tourism development. Furthermore, issues such as bureaucracy, corruption and the fear of the local community add more barriers to the potential for tourism to flourish in Kuwait. The study shows that there is potential for tourism development in terms of identifiable products and resources but the barriers to development outweigh the opportunities, with a key problem being indifference on the part of government. It is hoped that this study will help the Kuwaiti government and tourism stakeholders to rethink its approach to tourism as one of the diversification options; recommendations for practice are offered. IV Acknowledgements Thank you to Allah for giving me the strength and blessing to complete my research. I deeply appreciate the continuous help, support, guidance and assistance of my supervisor team, Professor Adele Ladkin, Dr Neelu Seetaram and Dr Hanaa Osman. Without them help and encouragement, completing this study would not have been possible. No words can express my appreciation for all the time and effort that has given to me. I am extremely grateful to my beloved husband Ahmad Alasousi, for his love, the sacrifices he has made and his belief in me. I would not have been able to complete this study without his boundless support therefore I am indebted to him. I would like to express my love and warm thanks to my children Essa, Aysha and Mona, who filled my life with happiness. It has not been easy for them to live away from their beloved grandparents for the last few years, so thank you for your understanding and patience. Many thanks and much appreciation go to my Father Saad Alrumaih, all members of my family and all my friends for their love, and prayers, asking God to bless them. Finally, I am grateful to the Government of the State of Kuwait, especially the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET), for providing me with a scholarship that enabled me to pursue my higher education. V Abbreviations KCSB Kuwait Central Statistical Bureau KFAS Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science KPC Kuwait Petroleum Corporation KOC Kuwait Oil Company KIA Kuwait Investment Authority CBK Central Bank of Kuwait MOP Ministry of Planning BOT Build, Operate and Transfer FCIC Foreign Capital Investment Committee FCIB Foreign Capital Investment Bureau SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats OPEC Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries MPA Mega Projects Agency GCC Gulf Cooperation Council HMZ Hong Kong, Macau and Zuhai KGO Kuwait Government Online CC Carrying Capacity UAE United Arab Emirates ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations NAFTA North American Free Trade agreement VI DMOs Destination Marketing Organisations OIC Organization of Islamic Conference SCT Supreme Commission of Tourism PAAET Public Authority of Applied Education and Training FDI Foreign Direct Investment QTA Qatar Tourism Authority VRF Visiting relatives and friends VII Table of Contents Copyright Statement ....................................................................................... II Abstract ......................................................................................................... III Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... V Abbreviations ................................................................................................. VI Table of Contents ........................................................................................ VIII Table of Figures ............................................................................................ XII Table of Tables ............................................................................................ XIII Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................. 1 1.1. Introduction to the Research Topic .................................................... 1 1.2. Rationale for Choosing the Topic ...................................................... 3 1.3. Aim and Objectives ............................................................................ 5 1.4. Chapter Outline ................................................................................. 5 Chapter 2. The economy of Kuwait and its development of tourism .......... 7 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................ 7 2.2. Kuwaiti society ................................................................................... 7 2.3. The Political System of Kuwait .......................................................... 9 2.4. Religion and Culture ........................................................................ 13 2.5. Socio-economic condition of Kuwait ................................................ 16 2.5.1. Kuwait‟s quest for independence from the oil economy ............ 19 2.5.2. Foreign Direct Investments in Kuwait ........................................ 20 2.6. Tourism in Kuwait ............................................................................ 22 2.6.1. Kuwait and the hotel sector ....................................................... 25 .7.2 The Kuwait National Tourism Master Plan ....................................... 27 VIII 2.7.1. SWOT analysis for the 2005/2011 Kuwait National Tourism Master Plan ........................................................................................... 30 2.7.2. The challenges for tourism development in Kuwait ................... 35 2.8. Conclusion ....................................................................................... 36 Chapter 3. Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development .................... 38 3.1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 38 3.2. Tourism System ..............................................................................